Posts

In a Well With a Bull Moose: A Lesson in Why We Need Each Other

Credit: AP News

How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing. – S. Truett Cathy

The other week, a bull moose somehow managed to fall into an abandoned well in a forested area of Maine. A team worked for about five hours to free the animal, as initially the landowners thought it may have been a turkey or some other type animal. Upon further inspection, it turned out to be much larger.

The land owners were not even aware of the abandoned well until the discovery of the bull moose. With the animal in distress, they summoned the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, which sent a biologist to assist the family in the rescue.

Using an excavator provided by the family, the animal was freed from the well, much to the relief of everyone. The family stated that the well has now been capped, preventing any more animals or humans from falling into it. As for the bull moose? Once it was free, it took off running and perhaps had a bruised ego. 

If you hang around in leadership long enough, it’s not too far-fetched to know that sometimes we can end up in situations like the bull moose, or we know someone who is. And when those times come, what is a leader to do? 

Consider these statistics:

  • 56% of leaders experienced burnout in 2024, an increase from 52% in 2023, according to a report by Staffing Industry Analysts
  • 41% of senior leaders are stressed, and 36% are exhausted, per a 2022 Deloitte report
  • 42% of senior leaders attribute the top cause of their stress to their own self-imposed pressure
  • In a Spring Health study, 41% of employees expressed having little confidence in their leaders’ ability to support mental health, leading to a ‘leadership gap”.

Here are some practical considerations and reminders to keep in mind when you find yourself feeling trapped in the proverbial leadership well, along with some steps you can take for yourself or for those around you.

No one is immune to falling into the well

You know as well as I do that no one is immune to falling into the proverbial well from time to time. I have been there many times myself. Seasoned leaders and new ones alike today find themselves challenged like never before, and stress can be a constant friend. The well is a simple reminder that we are on a shared journey.

You are not alone

One of the greatest lies you can believe as a leader is that you are all alone. You may feel like you are stuck or have fallen into a well, feeling alone and unseen. Your struggle may be hard, you may feel overwhelmed, and you may even feel like giving up. But take heart, you are seen, your voice is heard, and you are not alone. You will emerge from this stronger and better equipped than before.

Everyone needs encouragement

We need each other. And everyone needs encouragement. I am thankful for the times when I was in the well, that I had friends who were there to lift me up and out. And I am grateful and humbled by the times I have been there for others in similar situations. 

I am reminded of the words of Stephen Covey, who said, “Through years of study, teaching, and working with people all over the world, from all walks of life, I have determined that leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential in a way that is so clear that they come to see it in themselves.” 

This is one of the clearest mandates for how we ought to communicate with the people and leaders around us. By our words and actions, people should know that we, too, are familiar with life in the well, that they are not alone, they are seen and not judged, and we have their backs.

The late Robin Williams once said, “Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always”. This is our commission as leaders.

©2025 Doug Dickerson

Never Too Late

Returned Library Book. Credit: AP News

It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot

In case you missed it, a San Antonio, Texas library had an overdue book returned – 82 years late.

The book came with a note stating, “Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore.” The book, “Your Child, His Family, and Friends,” was checked out in July 1943. The book was a guide for parents on helping their children navigate personal relationships. 

The library said in a news release that it eliminated overdue fines in 2021. The inside cover of the book was stamped with the warning that the fine for overdue books was three cents a day. Not counting for inflation, the penalty would amount to nearly $900 today.

The book was found inside a box filled with other books that had been inherited by the person who sent it back. While it’s a great human interest story of returning the book 82 years past due, it also serves as another reminder for us: it’s never too late to do the right thing, become the person you were created to be, and dream new dreams.

Just in case you need to hear this, allow me to remind you that as long as you have breath in your lungs, God is not finished with you yet. It’s not too late. Here are a few examples of people who dared to believe that it was not too late for them or us.

“Grandma” Moses

Anna Moses loved to embroider, but when her fingers started to fail at the age of 78, she took up painting. Today, she is remembered as one of America’s great folk artists, who painted scene after scene of American rural life. 

“Colonel” Harland Sanders

Harland Sanders worked a variety of odd jobs throughout his life, and watched his first attempt at a fried chicken restaurant fail at the age of 65. However, Sanders used his Social Security checks to start franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken, which has become the success it is today.

Henry Ford

In his youth, Ford worked for Thomas Edison, where he developed methods to improve the then-new automobile. It was not until he was 40 that he founded the Ford Motor Company, where he introduced the Model T five years later. 

Richard Adams

While he worked as a British civil servant, Adams told his two daughters a story about a rabbit, who insisted that he write it down. After writing it down two years later, he published Watership Down, which instantly became a children’s literary classic.

Sam Walton

Sam Walton ran several stores and failed many times in the process. However, he learned from his failures and applied the lessons to open the first Walmart at 44, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the world. 

The examples above are but a small sampling of well-known people who refused to believe that their story was over, given their age. Countless others have similar stories. What are some of the common denominators that these people share, and what takeaways can you apply? Here is what I see.

It’s never too late to dream

No matter your age, as long as there is a dream in you, you can attain it if you don’t give up. Dreams don’t come with expiration dates, just people who give up too soon. Dare to dream and dare to believe you can achieve it. 

It’s never too late to fail and try again

The examples of these inspiring people remind us that success doesn’t come without a price and that price often is a string of failures on the road to success. It’s not about whether you will fail, but whether or not you will fail forward.

It’s never too late to believe that age is just a number

Would anyone have really blamed  “Grandma” Moses at 78 for not taking up painting when her fingers were giving out? I don’t think so. But she believed in herself, as did countless others who saw their greatest contributions come later in life. The world needs your inspiration and example, and your greatest achievements are yet to come.

It’s never too late to start

As you read this, I simply don’t want you to be inspired. I want you to be challenged to believe that your story isn’t finished. I want you to be inspired to believe that the setbacks, failures, and challenges you have faced have not defeated you; they have helped define you. Your best and most productive days are not behind you; you’re just getting warmed up. Do you believe this?


It’s never too late!

©2025 Doug Dickerson

Stop Throwing Your Leader Under The Bus

Credit: Google Images

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. – Lao Tzu

I read the story of a young man who applied for a farmhand position. When asked for his qualifications, he told the farmer about his previous experience, then said, “I can sleep when the wind blows.” This puzzled the farmer, but he took a liking to the young man and hired him.

A few months later, the farmer was awakened in the night by a violent storm. He ran outside to ensure that everything was secure. He found the barn doors tightly shut and the shutters closed. The storage shed and machinery were already properly maintained. That was when the farmer realized the significance of the statement, “I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Just as the farmer found the type of worker he needed in the young farmhand, so too do employers need those dependable people within their organizations. They need those who know what to do when the winds blow and the storms rage.

The measure of your value to your organization is in how you treat those in positions ahead of you.

Thriving and successful organizations are so because those in leadership and all within it place a premium value on relationships, communication, trust, clearly defined values and goals, and collaboration, to name a few.

However, when people within the organization undermine the leader, the organization’s health is at stake. And for the sake of context here, I am not talking about incompetent bosses, bullies, and jerks, which is a topic for another day. I am addressing the issue of a leader who, despite being otherwise good, performs poorly.

So what are some of the more common ways leaders are thrown under the bus, and what are the consequences? Let’s explore these four ways.

You throw your leader under the bus when you elevate your agenda ahead of the organization’s agenda.

When you prioritize your personal agenda over the organization’s agenda, you are undermining those in leadership. If you prioritize what’s best for you over what’s best for everyone, then you are only serving your interests. The way to get ahead is not by undermining those in leadership, but by elevating them. When you help your leader succeed, you will succeed.

Leadership Truth: No matter what our circumstances, our greatest limitation isn’t the leader above us-it’s the spirit within us. – John Maxwell

You throw your leader under the bus with whisper campaigns.

It usually sounds something like, “If I were the one in charge…”, or “She’s in way over her head”, and of course, this one, “He’s always playing favorites”.  And from there it takes on a life of its own. Instead of adding value to your leader by “leading up”, many find it easier to throw them under the bus. However, when you realize that your success is tied to your leader’s success, you will begin to view things in a new light. Maybe instead of water cooler whispers, you can try having their back.

Leadership Truth: If you want to get ahead, leading up is much better than kissing up. – Dan Rieland

You throw your leader under the bus when you withhold your best and don’t offer solutions.

When you withhold your best from your leader and don’t offer solutions, you are making the work of your leader harder. You are denying your organization the leverage it needs to move forward. Solutions withheld are progress denied. By not giving your best, offering your best, and being your best, you are more of an obstacle to progress than you are a help. Those in leadership need you at the top of your game, not holding back. They need to see that you are a strong team player.

Leadership Truth: The team with the best players wins. – Jack Welch

You throw your leader under the bus when you are unable to adapt

Flexibility is essential to a thriving workplace culture. So long as you have a “this is the way we’ve always done it” attitude and are unable to make adjustments, then you are throwing your leaders under the bus. When the wind blows and the storms come, you should be able to demonstrate to your leadership that you can sleep in the wind. Let your leadership see that you can adjust your sails and not only adapt to change, but you can lead it.

Leadership Truth: Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong. – N.R. Narrayana

I know this to be true – no one likes being thrown under the bus. We need more people on the bus, and no one left behind.  It’s time to find a better way and lead by example.

©2025 Doug Dickerson

Are You Blocking Progress?

Bull Moose blocking the trail in the Adirondacks.
Courtesy: AP News

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw

In case you missed it, there’s a story about a bull moose that has spent the better part of the summer lingering around a popular Adirondack mountain hiking trail, prompting New York state wildlife officials to close the path as they monitor the potentially ailing animal.

The moose is staying on or around the trail near the summit, sometimes sitting and sometimes foraging in a small area, according to the Department of Environmental Services.

Attempts to coax the moose from the trail have failed. The agency has said an “underlying illness influencing behavior” was suspected. Wildlife staff were recently able to get close enough to observe the moose’s behavior, but did not find any obvious signs of disease.

Hopefully, the moose will make a recovery, but its location on the trail is a mystery for officials and a disappointment to those who would like to complete the hike up to the summit of the Goodman Mountain Trail.

The moose is representative of those in your organization who stand (or sit) in the way of progress. Others are attempting to move forward, but there is a hurdle that is impeding progress. So, what does that look like in your workplace? Let’s examine a few possibilities.

Progress is blocked by those with the settlers’ mentality

Within your organization, there may be those with a settlers’ mentality. Chances are, these are people who have been around in your organization for a good number of years. Perhaps they’ve enjoyed a fair amount of success and have risen through the ranks. But now they are settling. Maybe they simply want to run out the clock until they retire.

The settlers’ mentality is hard to overcome because they are set in their ways, and the change they once embraced is now the change they resist. 

While their contributions and service need to be honored, a settlers’ mentality will only block present and future progress. Others can’t proceed and climb to new heights so long as the settler is blocking the path.

Progress is blocked by silos and territorial disputes

For the leader, navigating silos and territorial disputes is a major headache. According to The Workplace Institute, 32% of conflicts occur between management levels, and conflicts among senior leadership and executives account for 20% of all reported incidents. Approximately 22% of conflicts occur between line managers and their direct reports. 88% of respondents in the survey report observing poor morale among employees affected by conflict.

While it should go without saying that everyone strives for the same goals and outcomes, conflict within organizations blocks the path to success. When leaders in management have to devote more time to conflict resolution, it hinders the team's ability to succeed. Click To TweetSilos and territorial disputes are the proverbial bull moose on the trail, and they’re harming everyone.

Progress is blocked by negative attitudes and apathy

Nothing will poison the culture of your organization quicker than negative attitudes coupled with apathy. When you combine a negative attitude with a lack of buy-in or pride in one’s work, it blocks progress until it’s dealt with.

For whatever reason, the bull moose has blocked the trail all summer. Perhaps it’s due to a sickness or disease, and that’s what the officials are committed to learning.

As a leader, you must root out negative attitudes within your ranks. It’s sucking the life out of your organization. And what you tolerate, you promote. Apathy, stemming from a lack of commitment or work ethic, must also be addressed. Progress is best made not when you are carrying team members with negative attitudes with you to the summit, but when you decide you can climb higher and faster without them.

Many other factors can contribute to progress being blocked in your organization. Facing up to them is just the first step to overcoming them. Commit yourself to being a leader who empowers those around you and does not stand in the way of progress.

 

©2025 Doug Dickerson

What’s Under the Surface: Raising the Leaders Around You

Fossil discovery at Denver museum. Credit: AP News

Leaders develop daily, not in a day. – John C. Maxwell

In a rare turn of events, a dinosaur museum has made a fascinating discovery under its parking lot. The museum is popular with dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages, with an array of dinosaur displays and skeletons. But what was unearthed in the museum’s own parking lot has left many captivated by the discovery.

It originated from a hole drilled more than 750 feet deep to investigate the geothermal heating potential for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The result? A fossil bone discovery.

With a bore of only a couple of inches wide, museum officials struggled to describe just how unlikely it was to hit a dinosaur, even in a region with a fair number of such fossils. 

“Finding a dinosaur bone is like hitting a hole in one from the moon. It’s like winning the Willy Wonka factory. It’s incredible, it’s super rare,” said James Hagadorn, the museum’s curator of geology. Only two other similar finds have been noted in bore hole samples anywhere in the world, not to mention the grounds of a dinosaur museum, according to museum officials.

The discovery of this rare dinosaur bone serves as a poignant reminder of what lies beneath the surface around you daily. As a leader, you have untapped potential all around you, leaders waiting to be developed. You have diamonds in the rough waiting for their chance to shine. 

Identifying and raising up leaders is an important process. Let’s take a look at a few steps for your consideration.

See the potential, not just the present.

When mentoring and raising up leaders, it’s essential not to evaluate a person solely based on what you see today, but also on where you envision them in a year, or five years. While there may be some noticeable areas of improvement you can identify, see that as your starting point to build upon; don’t prejudge too quickly.

Potential can be measured in various ways, including current work ethic, dependability, curiosity, instincts, and the individual’s teachability. When you have these basics as starting points to work with, the possibilities for growth are there; they just need to be steered in the right direction. 

Give them the reins, not just the manual.

Empowerment is a crucial component of developing emerging leaders. What these leaders need is not a memorization of the manual or rulebook, but rather a playbook to guide their leadership. Click To TweetA leader will shine, produce, and grow in their potential not because they memorized the policy manual, but because they were empowered to create, take risks, fail, and re-emerge wiser and stronger on the other side. 

The goal here is not to create leaders in your image, but to help them discover their leadership identity and find their voice. This can only happen when they are empowered to take the reins.

Be an open book, not a closed door.

When it comes to leading down and developing the emerging leaders around you, you must be an open book to them, not a closed door. You want to facilitate their growth and development, not impede it. You want to be a positive influence through your engagement, vulnerability, and example.

You can’t expect to develop and lead those around you without demonstrating that you, too, are coachable, that you are committed to a growth plan and not just coasting, and that you are a leader worth emulating. 

I would like to encourage you to look beneath the surface of those around you. Where are the hidden gems in your organization that are just waiting for their opportunity to shine? It’s time to raise them up.

 

©2025 Doug Dickerson

Lessons From the Beetle: Why Protecting Your Culture Matters

The Pannonhalma Archabbey
Photo Credit: Google Images

Every day, everyone in your organization creates your culture by what they value, believe, think, say, and do. – Jon Gordon

There’s a story coming out of Pannonhalma, Hungary, about tens of thousands of old books being pulled from the shelves of a medieval abbey in an effort to save them from a beetle infestation that could wipe out centuries of history.

The 1,000-year-old Pannonhalma Archabbey is a Benedictine monastery, one of Hungary’s oldest and most renowned centers of learning.

The drugstore beetle, also known as the bread beetle, is often found among dried foodstuffs like grains, flour, and spices. But they are also attracted to the gelatin and starch-based adhesives found in books. They have been found in a section of the library housing around a quarter of the abbey’s 400,000 volumes.

The beetle invasion was first detected during a routine library cleaning. Employees noticed unusual layers of dust on the shelves and then saw that holes had been burrowed into some of the book spines. Upon opening the volumes, burrow holes could be seen in the paper where the beetles had chewed through.

The abbey, which hopes to reopen the library next year, believes that the effects of climate change played a role in the spurring of the beetle infestation, as average temperatures in Hungary have risen rapidly.

Thankfully, the books will be salvaged and eventually returned to the shelves once the process is complete.

What transpired in the library serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving one’s culture. The historic Pannonhalma Archabbey serves as a great example of why protecting your culture is so important. The small beetle has a few things to teach us.

No culture is immune to challenges.

One might think that a world-renowned historic library like Pannonhalma would be immune to a beetle infestation. But there they are working diligently to preserve their infested volumes of books.

Protecting your workplace culture should begin with the understanding that it is not immune to compromises or attacks that would leave it vulnerable. As a leader, you must be vigilant against harmful attitudes and mindsets that could compromise your values and mission. The earlier you identify these challenges, the better, before they spread throughout the organization.

Lesson from the beetles: Don’t take your workplace culture for granted. Work it, maintain it, and protect it at all costs.

Big problems start small.

The beetles were discovered during routine cleaning. Thankfully, they were, but not before 100,00 books were infected. Cultural awareness within your organization should be top of mind for all who have a stake in it. 

When leaders turn a blind eye to what is happening in their organization, it festers over time until eventually what could have been contained as a minor matter has now become a much larger issue that is impacting more people. Timid leaders create vacuums that will be filled with beetles eating away at the very thing you prize the most. Click To Tweet

Lesson from the beetles: Identify problems early and address them promptly. Never allow minor issues to escalate into major ones due to inaction.

A worker is helping preserve the books at the library.
Credit: Google Images

Be mindful of the ‘routine’

It was reported that the beetle infestation was discovered during a routine library cleaning. Within your organization, however, not everything should be treated as routine. Many of the issues you deal with as a leader are far from routine. However, having a routine mindset can lead to complacency if you are not careful.

When your culture is on autopilot, it’s challenging to discern what’s truly happening beneath the surface. Where is mediocrity taking place? What toxic chemistry is being overlooked and left unaddressed? What negative behaviors are being ignored? A settled routine can be detrimental to knowing where the beetles are.

Lesson from the beetle: Be intentional about your culture, growth, and values. They do not exist by accident and must be a priority.

How are you dealing with the beetles?

 

©2025 Doug Dickerson

What Lid is Hindering You?

Credit: Google Images
Michigan wildlife officials are tending to the bear.

Success is not to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. – Booker T. Washington

In case you missed it, wildlife experts in Michigan successfully trapped a black bear and removed a large lid that had been stuck around its neck for two years.

State bear specialist, Cody Norton, said, “It’s pretty incredible that the bear survived and was able to feed itself. The neck was scarred and missing hair, but the bear was in much better condition than we expected it to be.”

Norton said it’s not precisely known how the lid got stuck on the bear’s neck, but added, “We were pleasantly surprised it was still able to make a living like a pretty typical bear.” 

Thankfully, the bear survived despite having a lid around its neck for two years. Now, it can return to a normal way of life that a typical bear would enjoy.

While the bear did not purposefully set out to be burdened by a large lid around its neck, it does metaphorically serve as a reminder of what happens when we live our lives burdened by things that hold us back.

From a leadership perspective, it reminds me of John Maxwell’s Law of the Lid, which states, “Leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness.” Maxwell explains this way: “The higher the individual’s ability to lead, the higher the lid on his potential. To give you an example, if your leadership rates an 8, then your effectiveness can never be greater than a 7. If your leadership is only a 4, then your effectiveness will be no greater than a 3. Your leadership ability- for better or for worse-always determines your  effectiveness and the potential impact of your organization.” 

Over time, with a commitment to growth and development, you can lift that lid as well as your potential. Your level of effectiveness is merely a starting point, not a final destination. 

While wildlife officials were about to spot the bear, rescue it, and remove the lid, you too must identify the lids in your life that hold you back. 

So let me ask you, what are the lids hindering your leadership? What are the disciplines you need to work on in order to raise your level of effectiveness?

Perhaps a few questions can help you find the answers you need to become a more effective leader. To start, why not explore the answers to the following questions?

Are you relying too heavily on your title?

You can have a title, but that doesn’t make you a leader. Specifically, in what ways do you value your title more than your growth as a leader? So long as you think it’s about your title, you will always have a lid on your leadership.

Are you holding yourself accountable?

Those who lift the lid on their effectiveness as leaders are those who hold themselves accountable. Accountable leaders are growing leaders. When you have someone whom you know and trust who can hold you accountable, they can help you see blind spots or other areas where you can improve. 

Are you serving with humility?

Arrogance coupled with a sense of entitlement is a hindrance that can hinder your leadership effectiveness. The underlying principle you have to remember in leadership is that it’s not about you. When you set out to serve others and add value to them, it will come back on you many times over.

Are you guarding your attitude?

Your attitude and disposition as a leader will make you or break you. No one wants to be around arrogant or haughty leaders. However, be aware that your attitude will serve as the thermostat for the rest of your team. Is your attitude worth emulating? 

Do you see the value in those you lead?

You can’t bring value to those around you if you see no value in them? And if that is your approach toward them, not only is it detrimental to them, but it clamps the lid on your effectiveness as a leader. 

Are you on a personal growth plan?

Your personal growth as a leader doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentional. Unless a growth plan is a part of your daily routine as a leader, then whatever level of effectiveness you are at today is where you will be next year. And the year after. Commit yourself to a growth plan and raise the lid on your effectiveness.

 

©2025 Doug Dickerson

 

Turning Disappointments Into Celebrations

Credit: Google Images
Annual Pencil Sharpening Celebration

Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead. – Les Brown

In case you missed it, more than a thousand people in Minneapolis recently attended what has become an annual celebration – the sharpening of a giant number 2 pencil. Yes, a pencil.

The 20–foot–tall pencil was sculpted out of a giant oak tree that was damaged by a storm a few years ago. Neighbors and friends mourned the damage of the beloved tree. Yet, the owners of the tree had a plan. According to the story, the owners saw it not so much as a loss, but as a chance to give the tree new life.

The sharpening ceremony on the front lawn has evolved into a community-wide event that draws hundreds and is filled with music and pageantry. Some people come dressed as pencils and erasers.

In the wake of the storm, the owners knew they wanted to create a sculpture out of their tree. Given the shape and circumference of the log, they conceived the idea of an oversized pencil.

When asked why they chose a pencil, the owner replied, “Everybody uses a pencil. You see it in school, you see it in people’s work, or drawings, everything. So, it’s just accessible to everybody.” They also stated that they wanted to do something that would bring the community together.

The owners said, “We tell a story about the dull tip, and we’re gonna get sharp. There’s renewal. We can write a love letter, a thank you note, we can write a math problem, a to-do list. And that’s a chance for renewal, that promise, people really seem to buy into and understand”. 

Now, each year they sharpen the pencil. It’s a community celebration, and its inspiration came out of something that was initially very disappointing.

Life has a way of throwing us curveballs. Things happen in life that we didn’t see coming, and we feel the sting of disappointment. And while we can’t choose what we go through in life, we can decide how to respond to it.

When John and Amy Higgins lost that tree, they were disappointed. But out of that disappointment came a joyous celebration that now draws people by the hundreds. It all comes down to your choice.

John and Amy chose not to make it about them or their grief, but instead, they saw an opportunity to do something more meaningful. 

Here are a few lessons we can learn from John and Amy about turning disappointments into celebrations.

Your attitude is a game-changer.

John and Amy could have simply mourned the loss of the tree and moved on with their lives. But instead, they chose to do something positive that would have far-reaching outcomes.

This is emblematic of individuals seeking the greater good and those with a positive attitude. And this is what will set you apart in life when bad things happen to good people. John and Amy chose a positive attitude, and now many come annually to celebrate something good that came out of a loss.

Additional Resource: Attitude Checkup: Three Questions You Need to Answer Now

Credit: Google Images Celebration at the pencil sharpening.

Your focus sets your course.

John and Amy didn’t make the loss of the tree about them. They decided on a plan to create a giant number 2 pencil, and it evolved into an annual community celebration.

When disappointments come your way, as they surely will, your focus will determine where and how it will end. As you guard your attitude and chart the course, good things can come from the things that brought you pain.

Additional Resource: It’s a Matter of Focus

You can choose pity or a party.

John and Amy could have chosen a pity party. But as it turns out, they chose a party. From the log of a fallen tree now stands a 20-foot number 2 pencil that serves as a reminder that good can come from adversity, and sometimes we need a good sharpening to be more productive.

I encourage you today to reflect on your attitude, think carefully about what you choose to focus on, and opt for the party over the pity. 

 

©2025  Doug Dickerson

Born To Be Wild: Three Life Lessons From an Otter

Louie the Otter: Credit UPI

 

The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. – John Bingham

In case you missed it, a Wisconsin zoo has announced that it has called off the search for an otter on the loose since March, explaining that the animal “has made the decision to be a wild otter.” 

It all started when Louie, the now-declared “wild otter,” and his pal Ophelia decided to escape during a snowstorm back in March.

Ophelia was recaptured and returned to the zoo, but Louie proved to be more elusive. Zoo officials said Louie was born in the wild and is believed to possess all the skills and instincts necessary to live on his own.

I have to admire Louie. Rather than live his life in captivity on someone else’s terms, he decided to live the best life in the wild.

When choosing your path in life, why is it that so many settle for less than what their heart desires? Why do 95% of people never manage to break free and achieve their dreams? And what can you do to be in the 5% that do?  What obstacles do you need to overcome to make it happen? Here are three life lessons from Louie that can help you today.

Face your fears

Many people in life never pursue their dreams because fear has paralyzed them. Fear is by far the primary reason dreams go unfulfilled and why people settle for far less in life than what they’re otherwise capable of achieving.

Henry Ford observed, “One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.” What fear(s) are holding you back? What would your life look like if you overcame it? How long will you let fear prevail? If you truly believe that you were born for something greater than what you are experiencing, then it’s time to face your fears. Click To Tweet

Lesson from Louie: Don’t let fear prevent you from escaping from the things that would entrap you so that you can live your best life.

Additional Resource: How Our Fears Hold Us Back

Have a plan

Moving from the 95% who never realize their dreams, you will need a plan. Achieving your dreams and living your best life doesn’t happen otherwise. You may be reading this, and in your mind, you are recounting too many past failures and too few victories. You may think that your time will never come.

John Maxwell says, “Good management of bad experiences lead to great personal growth.” We’ve all had bad experiences. Your bad experiences can propel you to the next level of success when you learn from them; otherwise, they will keep you stuck. Are you committed to good management of bad experiences? You will succeed when you commit to your personal growth and have a plan for your success.

Lesson from Louie: You can break free from the things that would hold you back, but only with a plan to get there.

Additional Resource: Is Your Leadership Adrift?

Don’t look back

Breaking out of the pack of the 95% who go through life with unfulfilled dreams, you have to make some bold decisions. You have to face your fears, you have to have a plan, and once you commit, you can’t look back. You have to be laser-focused going forward.

I am reminded of the story of a man who was crabbing along the jetties on a beach. He had a basket full of crabs. A passerby noticed there was no lid on the basket. He asked the man if he was concerned about the crabs crawling out. The man replied, “If there were just one crab in the basket, he could crawl out,” he responded, “but when the basket is full, and one tries to crawl out, the others will reach up and pull him back down, not letting him escape.” 

And this is what happens when you try to make the move from the 95% to the 5%. You will have others try to pull you down. You must keep climbing, keep clawing your way to the top, you must not look back. Your growth, success, dreams, and aspirations come into focus and fruition when your focus is on what lies ahead, not what lies behind you.

Lesson from Louie – Once you break free, don’t look back.

Additional Resource: Stay in Your Lane: Why Focused Leadership Matters

 

©2025 Doug Dickerson

Keep Your Eye on The Prize

Chad Le Clos glances over at Michael Phelps.
Credit: Google Images

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. – Stephen Covey

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, one of the most infamous races that took place was the 200-meter men’s butterfly.


Entered in the race was American Michael Phelps. During his illustrious Olympic career, he won 28 medals, 23 of them gold.

During the 200-meter race, Phelps was leading for most of the race. As they entered the final stretch of the race, Chad Le Clos was starting to close the gap on Phelps. However, in the closing moments of the race, Le Clos made a mistake that cost him the race. He turned to look at Phelps in the other lane, and when he did, Phelps surged ahead and won the race. Le Clos finished 7/10ths of a second behind and finished in fourth place.

While stories like these are what make history and Olympic lore, they serve as a reminder for us as leaders to understand the importance of keeping our focus.

What would keeping your eye on the goal look like for you as a leader? How would it improve your leadership skills? Let’s explore a few ways and things we can do to improve this leadership skill.

Stay in your lane

You can be the jack of all trades or the master of none, but one key thing that is important to you as a leader is to stay in your lane. 

What happens when we veer out of our lane? We take on roles and responsibilities that we previously delegated. We devalue team members by inserting ourselves into their work. We clog up the wheel of productivity by inserting ourselves in places where we don’t belong.

But worse, you ignore the more important thing that you should be doing – your work and taking care of your responsibilities. By staying in your lane, you and your team operate with efficiency. When you or team members get out of your respective lanes, you are presiding over chaos.

Keep your focus

In a split second, Chad Le Clos lost his chance at an Olympic medal simply because he lost his focus. And while it may seem innocent enough, that glance was his undoing.

In a research conducted by Insightful, they found:

  •  Lost Focus is a big problem: 92% of employers said lost focus is a significant problem in the workplace
  • Deep Focus Time is Elusive: 80% of employees said they can’t go an hour without being distracted at work
  • Frequent Distractions: 67% of employees report checking messages or emails more than 10 times a day, with 59% experiencing interruptions every thirty minutes or less.

As a leader, you can’t prevent everyone within your organization from being distracted, but you can make it a priority to ensure that you are not contributing to the problem. Regularly encourage and remind your team of the importance of their mission and why it matters not only to them but to everyone else as well. With this thought reinforced, it can lead to greater productivity.  

Be the exampleRegularly encourage and remind your team of the importance of their mission and why it matters not only to them but to everyone else as well. Click To Tweet

The importance of you being the example can’t be overstated. Good leaders model good behaviors in the workplace. If you expect your team to perform and function on high levels, they need to see it modeled by you.  

John Maxwell states, “Good leaders must communicate vision creatively and continually. However, the vision doesn’t come alive until the leader models it.” This is your task as a leader: to model what it means to lead your team with clarity, focus, and intentionality.

Do you have your eye on the prize?

 

©2025 Doug Dickerson